EP0460641B1 - A rare gas discharge fluorescent lamp device - Google Patents
A rare gas discharge fluorescent lamp device Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- EP0460641B1 EP0460641B1 EP91109195A EP91109195A EP0460641B1 EP 0460641 B1 EP0460641 B1 EP 0460641B1 EP 91109195 A EP91109195 A EP 91109195A EP 91109195 A EP91109195 A EP 91109195A EP 0460641 B1 EP0460641 B1 EP 0460641B1
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- EP
- European Patent Office
- Prior art keywords
- rare gas
- gas discharge
- fluorescent lamp
- discharge fluorescent
- lamp
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- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
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Classifications
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- H—ELECTRICITY
- H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
- H01J—ELECTRIC DISCHARGE TUBES OR DISCHARGE LAMPS
- H01J61/00—Gas-discharge or vapour-discharge lamps
- H01J61/02—Details
- H01J61/56—One or more circuit elements structurally associated with the lamp
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- H—ELECTRICITY
- H05—ELECTRIC TECHNIQUES NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
- H05B—ELECTRIC HEATING; ELECTRIC LIGHT SOURCES NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; CIRCUIT ARRANGEMENTS FOR ELECTRIC LIGHT SOURCES, IN GENERAL
- H05B41/00—Circuit arrangements or apparatus for igniting or operating discharge lamps
- H05B41/14—Circuit arrangements
- H05B41/36—Controlling
- H05B41/38—Controlling the intensity of light
- H05B41/39—Controlling the intensity of light continuously
- H05B41/392—Controlling the intensity of light continuously using semiconductor devices, e.g. thyristor
- H05B41/3921—Controlling the intensity of light continuously using semiconductor devices, e.g. thyristor with possibility of light intensity variations
- H05B41/3927—Controlling the intensity of light continuously using semiconductor devices, e.g. thyristor with possibility of light intensity variations by pulse width modulation
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- G—PHYSICS
- G03—PHOTOGRAPHY; CINEMATOGRAPHY; ANALOGOUS TECHNIQUES USING WAVES OTHER THAN OPTICAL WAVES; ELECTROGRAPHY; HOLOGRAPHY
- G03G—ELECTROGRAPHY; ELECTROPHOTOGRAPHY; MAGNETOGRAPHY
- G03G15/00—Apparatus for electrographic processes using a charge pattern
- G03G15/04—Apparatus for electrographic processes using a charge pattern for exposing, i.e. imagewise exposure by optically projecting the original image on a photoconductive recording material
- G03G15/04036—Details of illuminating systems, e.g. lamps, reflectors
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- H—ELECTRICITY
- H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
- H01J—ELECTRIC DISCHARGE TUBES OR DISCHARGE LAMPS
- H01J61/00—Gas-discharge or vapour-discharge lamps
- H01J61/70—Lamps with low-pressure unconstricted discharge having a cold pressure < 400 Torr
- H01J61/76—Lamps with low-pressure unconstricted discharge having a cold pressure < 400 Torr having a filling of permanent gas or gases only
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- Y—GENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
- Y10—TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC
- Y10S—TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
- Y10S315/00—Electric lamp and discharge devices: systems
- Y10S315/07—Starting and control circuits for gas discharge lamp using transistors
Definitions
- the present invention relates to a rare gas discharge fluorescent lamp device for use with an information device such as a facsimile, a copying machine or an image reader.
- a fluorescent lamp is high in efficiency, it has a problem that characteristics thereof such as an optical output characteristic vary in accordance with a temperature since discharge from vapor of mercury is utilized for emission of light. Therefore, when a fluorescent substance is used, either the temperature range in use is limited, or a heater is provided on a wall of a tube of the lamp in order to control the temperature of the lamp.
- development of fluorescent lamps having stabilized characteristics are demanded eagerly for diversification of locations for use and for improvement in performance of devices. From such background, development of a rare gas discharge fluorescent lamp which makes use of emission of light based on rare gas discharge and is free from a change in temperature characteristic is being proceeded as a light source for an information device.
- Figs. 14 and 15 show an exemplary one of conventional rare gas discharge fluorescent lamp devices which is disclosed, for example, in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 63-58752, and wherein Fig. 14 is a constructional view showing a transverse section of a rare gas discharge fluorescent lamp and an entire construction of the device, and Fig. 15 is a vertical sectional view of the lamp.
- reference numeral 1 denotes a bulb in the form of an elongated hollow rod, which is made of quartz or hard or soft glass.
- a fluorescent layer 2 is formed on an inner face of the bulb 1
- rare gas X consisting of at least one of xenon, krypton, argon, neon, helium and so forth is enclosed in the bulb 1.
- a pair of inner electrodes 3a and 3b having different polarities from each other are located at the opposite end portions within the bulb 1.
- the inner electrodes 3a and 3b are individually connected to a pair of lead wires 4 which extend in an airtight condition through walls of the end portions of the bulb 1.
- an outer electrode 5 in the form of a belt is provided on an outer face of a side wall of the bulb 1 and extends in an axial direction of the bulb 1.
- the inner electrodes 3a and 3b are connected by way of the lead wires 4 to a high frequency inverter 6 serving as a high frequency power generating device, and the high frequency inverter 6 is connected to a dc power source 7. Then, the outer electrode 5 is connected to the high frequency inverter 6 such that it may have the same polarity as the one inner electrode 3a.
- the lamp employs such a hot cathode electrode as disclosed, for example, in Japanese Patent Publication No. 63-29931 in order to eliminate the drawback of a cold cathode rare gas discharge lamp that the starting voltage is high.
- the rare gas discharge fluorescent lamp can provide a comparatively high output power because its power load can be increased. However, it can obtain only a considerably low efficiency and optical output as compared with a fluorescent lamp based on mercury vapor.
- a rare gas discharge fluorescent lamp device of the general kind contemplated here and comprising a rare gas discharge fluorescent lamp, wherein rare gas is enclosed in the inside of a glass bulb, which has a fluorescent layer formed on an inner face thereof and has a pair of electrodes at the opposite ends thereof, one of which is a cathode filament, is also known from DE-OS 32 31 939.
- a rare gas discharge fluorescent lamp device is, for example, constructed such that an inductance is connected to one side of a cathode filament of a rare gas discharge fluorescent lamp, which inductance is connected to a condenser in parallel to form a resonance circuit, and this and a parallel circuit composed of a switching element and a diode and a direct current are connected in series, and since a diode is connected between a pair of electrodes of the rare gas discharge fluorescent lamp, during a pulse signal from a pulse signal source of the switching element is supplied to close the switching element, a preheating current flows through the diode connected between the pair of electrodes and to the cathode filament of the rare gas discharge fluorescent lamp to preheat the cathode, so that the rare gas discharge fluorescent lamp is not discharged, but when the switching element is opened, a voltage is applied across the pair of electrodes by the resonance circuit, and converted to a half wave voltage of ac sine wave which is necessary for lighting the rare gas discharge fluorescent lamp, so
- the rate of energization time of the rare gas discharge fluorescent lamp to a period caused by opening the switching circuit is higher than 5 % but lower than 70 % and the energization time within a period is shorter than 150 ⁇ sec, the probability that molecules of the enclosed gas may be excited at such an energy level that they may emit much resonant ultraviolet rays of the rare gas which contributes to emission of light upon application of such pulse-like voltage.
- the filament can be preheated without any additional preheating power supply.
- Fig. 1 is an entire constructional view of an embodiment of the present invention.
- Reference numeral 8 denotes a rare gas discharge fluorescent lamp (hereinafter referred to as a lamp) wherein a fluorescent layer 2 is formed on a substantially entire inner peripheral surface of a bulb 1 made of glass and having a straight cylindrical configuration having a diameter of 15.5 mm and a length of 300 mm, and rare gas X such as xenon gas is enclosed in the bulb 1.
- a pair of electrodes 3a and 3b are encapsulated at the opposite end portions in the bulb 1.
- An aluminum plate having a width of 3 mm is adhered as an auxiliary starting conductor to an outer wall of the bulb 1 over the overall length of the lamp.
- Reference numeral 7 denotes a dc power source.
- Reference numeral 11 denotes a resonance circuit composed of an inductance 12 and a condenser 13, and 14 denotes a switching circuit such as a transistor, 15 denotes a pulse signal source that generates pulse signals for opening and closing operation of the switching element 14, and 16, 17 denote diodes, wherein the diode 16 is connected between a pair of electrodes 3a and 3b of the rare gas discharge fluorescent lamp, whereas the diode 17 is connected to the switching element 14 in parallel.
- the switching element 14 is opened or closed during a period and a term predetermined in accordance with the period and width of the pulse signal supplied from the pulse signal source 15.
- a dc current from the power source 7 flows to the parallel resonance circuit 11, and further flows to a series circuit comprising the inductance 12, the cathode 3b, the diode 16 and the switching element 14, so that the cathode 3b is preheated.
- a voltage is applied across the electrodes 3a and 3b by means of a resonance phenomenon of the parallel resonance circuit 11 and the lamp 8 is thereby discharged.
- the switching element 14 Since the voltage generated by the parallel resonance circuit 11 is a ac sine-wave voltage, the switching element 14 is opened for a half period of the resonance period, and then the switching element 14 is again closed. Accordingly, the discharge conducted within the lamp 8 is converted to a pulse-like discharge of a half wave voltage of ac sine wave having idle time therein.
- the diode 17 connected to the switching element 14 in parallel is provided for protecting the switching element 14 itself.
- Fig. 2 shows a relationship between a pressure of enclosed xenon gas and a lamp efficiency. It is to be noted that the lamp efficiency is determined from a value obtained by dividing a brightness by an electric power.
- "A” indicates the relationship when the rare gas discharge fluorescent lamp is lit by rectangular wave dc pulses having a duty ratio of 60 %, while “B” indicates the relationship in the case of common high frequency ac lighting (sine wave), and in both cases, the frequency is 20 KHz and the power consumption is the same.
- Fig. 3 shows a relationship between an enclosed gas pressure and a starting voltage. It can be seen from this figure that, as the enclosed gas pressure increases, a progressively high voltage becomes necessary for starting.
- the enclosed gas pressure is lower than 200 Torr. Accordingly, from Figs. 2 and 3, the optimum enclosed gas pressure at which the efficiency is higher than that in high frequency lighting and pulse lighting wherein the starting voltage is practical can be attained is higher than 10 Torr but lower than 200 Torr.
- Figs. 4 and 5 show a relationship between an energization time within a period of a dc pulse and a lamp efficiency while the idle time is held fixed to 100 ⁇ sec. From this figure, it can be seen that the shorter the pulse energization time, the higher the efficiency, and the effect is particularly remarkable where the pulse energization time is shorter than 150 usec.
- Fig. 5 shows relationship between a lamp efficiency and a pulse duty ratio in the case of pulse lighting at frequencies of 5 KHz to 80 KHz ("C", "D" and "E").
- the relationship between a pulse duty ratio and a relative life presents such a variation that, if the pulse duty ratio is reduced until it comes down to 5 %, the relative life exhibits a little decreasing tendency, and after the pulse duty ratio is reduced beyond 5 %, the life drops suddenly. It is presumed that, where the duty ratio is lower than 5 %, the pulse peak current of the lamp increases so significantly that wear of the electrodes progresses suddenly. Accordingly, the pulse duty ratio is preferably higher than 5 % when the life is taken into consideration.
- Figs. 7 to 11 are characteristic views showing the result of a similar examination of the above case, wherein krypton gas is enclosed in the lamp instead of the above xenon gas and from the results of these examinations, it can be seen that the optimum enclosed krypton gas pressure is more than 10 Torr but less than 100 Torr, the energization time to a period is less than 150 ⁇ sec, and the pulse duty ratio is preferably higher than 5 %, but lower than 70 %.
- the inductance 12 is disposed nearer to dc power source 7 than the lamp 8 is, if the lamp 8 is disposed nearer to the dc power source 7 than the inductance 12 is, as shown in Fig. 12, noise can be reduced, and further, if in addition to a lamp 8a which corresponds to the lamp 8 of Fig. 12, another lamp 8b is additionally provided in the condenser side as shown in Fig. 13, the device can be converted to a multi-lighting device.
- a rare gas discharge fluorescent lamp device is constructed such that it comprises a rare gas discharge fluorescent lamp wherein rare gas such as xenon gas or the like is enclosed in the inside of a glass bulb which has a fluorescent layer formed on an inner face thereof and has a pair of electrodes at the opposite ends thereof, one of which is a cathode filament, a resonance circuit which is a parallel circuit composed of a condenser and an inductance serially connected to one end of the pair of electrodes of the rare gas discharge fluorescent lamp, a series circuit comprising a direct current power source and a parallel circuit composed of a switching element connected to an anode side of the rare gas discharge fluorescent lamp and a diode, a diode provided between the other end of the cathode filament and the anode of the rare gas discharge fluorescent lamp, and a pulse signal source that controls the switching element in such a condition that the rate of open time to a period is higher than 5 % but lower than 70 % and the open time is shorter than
Description
- The present invention relates to a rare gas discharge fluorescent lamp device for use with an information device such as a facsimile, a copying machine or an image reader.
- In recent years, the performances of information terminal devices such as a facsimile, a copying machine and a image reader have been improved together with advancement of the information-oriented society, and the market of such information devices is rapidly expanding. In developing information devices of a higher performance, a light source unit for use with such information devices is required to have a higher performance as a key device thereof. Conventionally, halogen lamps and fluorescent lamps have been employed frequently as lamps for use with such light source units. However, since halogen lamps are comparatively low in efficiency, fluorescent lamps which are higher in efficiency are used principally in recent years.
- However, while a fluorescent lamp is high in efficiency, it has a problem that characteristics thereof such as an optical output characteristic vary in accordance with a temperature since discharge from vapor of mercury is utilized for emission of light. Therefore, when a fluorescent substance is used, either the temperature range in use is limited, or a heater is provided on a wall of a tube of the lamp in order to control the temperature of the lamp. However, development of fluorescent lamps having stabilized characteristics are demanded eagerly for diversification of locations for use and for improvement in performance of devices. From such background, development of a rare gas discharge fluorescent lamp which makes use of emission of light based on rare gas discharge and is free from a change in temperature characteristic is being proceeded as a light source for an information device.
- Figs. 14 and 15 show an exemplary one of conventional rare gas discharge fluorescent lamp devices which is disclosed, for example, in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 63-58752, and wherein Fig. 14 is a constructional view showing a transverse section of a rare gas discharge fluorescent lamp and an entire construction of the device, and Fig. 15 is a vertical sectional view of the lamp. Referring to the figures,
reference numeral 1 denotes a bulb in the form of an elongated hollow rod, which is made of quartz or hard or soft glass. Afluorescent layer 2 is formed on an inner face of thebulb 1, and rare gas X consisting of at least one of xenon, krypton, argon, neon, helium and so forth is enclosed in thebulb 1. A pair ofinner electrodes bulb 1. Theinner electrodes lead wires 4 which extend in an airtight condition through walls of the end portions of thebulb 1. Further, anouter electrode 5 in the form of a belt is provided on an outer face of a side wall of thebulb 1 and extends in an axial direction of thebulb 1. - The
inner electrodes lead wires 4 to ahigh frequency inverter 6 serving as a high frequency power generating device, and thehigh frequency inverter 6 is connected to adc power source 7. Then, theouter electrode 5 is connected to thehigh frequency inverter 6 such that it may have the same polarity as the oneinner electrode 3a. - Operation is described subsequently. With the rare gas discharge fluorescent lamp device having such a construction as described above, if a high frequency power is applied across the
inner electrodes high frequency inverter 6, then glow discharge will take place between theinner electrodes bulb 1 so that the rare gas will emit peculiar ultraviolet rays therefrom. The ultraviolet rays will excite thefluorescent layer 2 formed on the inner face of thebulb 1. Consequently, visible rays of light are emitted from thefluorescent layer 2 and discharged to the outside of thebulb 1. - Meanwhile, another rare gas discharge fluorescent lamp is disclosed as an example in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 63-248050. The lamp employs such a hot cathode electrode as disclosed, for example, in Japanese Patent Publication No. 63-29931 in order to eliminate the drawback of a cold cathode rare gas discharge lamp that the starting voltage is high. The rare gas discharge fluorescent lamp can provide a comparatively high output power because its power load can be increased. However, it can obtain only a considerably low efficiency and optical output as compared with a fluorescent lamp based on mercury vapor.
- However, conventional rare gas discharge fluorescent lamps cannot readily attain a sufficiently high brightness as compared with fluorescent lamps employing mercury because fluorescent substance is excited to emit light by ultraviolet rays generated by rare gas discharge, and therefore, a rare gas discharge fluorescent lamp in high efficiency has been awaited. Further, since a conventional lamp adopts a hot cathode electrode, an extra power supply for preheating the cathode electrode should be unnecessary.
- A rare gas discharge fluorescent lamp device of the general kind contemplated here and comprising a rare gas discharge fluorescent lamp, wherein rare gas is enclosed in the inside of a glass bulb, which has a fluorescent layer formed on an inner face thereof and has a pair of electrodes at the opposite ends thereof, one of which is a cathode filament, is also known from DE-OS 32 31 939.
- It is an object of the present invention to provide a rare gas discharge fluorescent lamp device causing a rare gas discharge fluorescent lamp to light in a higher brightness and in a higher efficiency in comparison with devices of prior art.
- This object, in accordance with the present invention, is achieved by a rare gas discharge fluorescent lamp device with the features of
appendent claim 1. - Advantageous embodiments are subject matter of
claims 2 to 4. - A rare gas discharge fluorescent lamp device according to one embodiment of the present invention is, for example, constructed such that an inductance is connected to one side of a cathode filament of a rare gas discharge fluorescent lamp, which inductance is connected to a condenser in parallel to form a resonance circuit, and this and a parallel circuit composed of a switching element and a diode and a direct current are connected in series, and since a diode is connected between a pair of electrodes of the rare gas discharge fluorescent lamp, during a pulse signal from a pulse signal source of the switching element is supplied to close the switching element, a preheating current flows through the diode connected between the pair of electrodes and to the cathode filament of the rare gas discharge fluorescent lamp to preheat the cathode, so that the rare gas discharge fluorescent lamp is not discharged, but when the switching element is opened, a voltage is applied across the pair of electrodes by the resonance circuit, and converted to a half wave voltage of ac sine wave which is necessary for lighting the rare gas discharge fluorescent lamp, so that the lamp is discharged. By the way, since the rate of energization time of the rare gas discharge fluorescent lamp to a period caused by opening the switching circuit is higher than 5 % but lower than 70 % and the energization time within a period is shorter than 150 µsec, the probability that molecules of the enclosed gas may be excited at such an energy level that they may emit much resonant ultraviolet rays of the rare gas which contributes to emission of light upon application of such pulse-like voltage. Furthermore, since an electric current flows to the cathode filament during the closed period of the switching element, the filament can be preheated without any additional preheating power supply.
- Other objects and features of the invention will be more fully understood from the following detailed description when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.
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- Figs. 1 to 13 are drawings corresponding to a rare gas discharge fluorescent lamp device according to one embodiment of the present invention.
- Fig. 1 is an entire constructional view of the rare gas discharge fluorescent lamp device showing one embodiment;
- Fig. 2 is a lamp efficiency characteristic view with respect to an enclosed xenon gas pressure in the device;
- Fig. 3 is a starting voltage characteristic view with respect to an enclosed xenon gas pressure;
- Fig. 4 is a lamp efficiency characteristic view with respect to a pulse generation time of the lamp in which xenon gas is enclosed;
- Fig. 5 is a lamp efficiency characteristic view with respect to a pulse duty ratio of the lamp in which xenon gas is enclosed;
- Fig. 6 is a life characteristic view with respect to a pulse duty ratio of the lamp in which xenon gas is enclosed;
- Fig. 7 is a lamp efficiency characteristic view with respect to an enclosed krypton gas pressure;
- Fig. 8 is a starting voltage characteristic view with respect to an enclosed krypton gas pressure of the device;
- Fig. 9 is a lamp efficiency characteristic view with respect to a pulse energization time of the lamp wherein krypton gas is enclosed;
- Fig. 10 is a lamp efficiency characteristic view with respect to a pulse duty ratio of the lamp in which krypton gas is enclosed;
- Fig. 11 is a life characteristic view with respect to a duty ratio of the lamp wherein krypton gas is enclosed;
- Fig. 12 is a block diagram showing a rare gas discharge fluorescent lamp having a noiseless characteristic according to another embodiment of the present invention;
- Fig. 13 is a block diagram showing a rare gas discharge fluorescent lamp device for lighting multiple lamps according to another embodiment of the present invention;
- Fig. 14 is an entire constructional view of the rare gas discharge fluorescent lamp according to a conventionally known embodiment; and
- Fig. 15 is a vertical sectional view of the rare gas discharge fluorescent lamp device according to a conventionally known embodiment.
- In the following, an embodiment of the present invention is described with reference to the drawings. By the way, it is to be noted that like reference characters in each figure denote like or corresponding portions of the conventional embodiment so as to avoid repetition of the explanation.
- Fig. 1 is an entire constructional view of an embodiment of the present invention.
Reference numeral 8 denotes a rare gas discharge fluorescent lamp (hereinafter referred to as a lamp) wherein afluorescent layer 2 is formed on a substantially entire inner peripheral surface of abulb 1 made of glass and having a straight cylindrical configuration having a diameter of 15.5 mm and a length of 300 mm, and rare gas X such as xenon gas is enclosed in thebulb 1. A pair ofelectrodes bulb 1. An aluminum plate having a width of 3 mm is adhered as an auxiliary starting conductor to an outer wall of thebulb 1 over the overall length of the lamp.Reference numeral 7 denotes a dc power source.Reference numeral 11 denotes a resonance circuit composed of aninductance 12 and acondenser switching element diode 16 is connected between a pair ofelectrodes diode 17 is connected to theswitching element 14 in parallel. - The operation of the above construction is as follows. In the rare gas discharge fluorescent lamp device as shown in Fig. 1, the
switching element 14 is opened or closed during a period and a term predetermined in accordance with the period and width of the pulse signal supplied from thepulse signal source 15. During the period that the switchingelement 14 is closed, a dc current from thepower source 7 flows to theparallel resonance circuit 11, and further flows to a series circuit comprising theinductance 12, thecathode 3b, thediode 16 and the switchingelement 14, so that thecathode 3b is preheated. Whereafter when the switchingelement 14 is opened, a voltage is applied across theelectrodes parallel resonance circuit 11 and thelamp 8 is thereby discharged. Since the voltage generated by theparallel resonance circuit 11 is a ac sine-wave voltage, the switchingelement 14 is opened for a half period of the resonance period, and then the switchingelement 14 is again closed. Accordingly, the discharge conducted within thelamp 8 is converted to a pulse-like discharge of a half wave voltage of ac sine wave having idle time therein. Thediode 17 connected to the switchingelement 14 in parallel is provided for protecting the switchingelement 14 itself. - Subsequently, referring to an examination of the above rare gas discharge fluorescent lamp device in which each of xenon, krypton and argon gas is enclosed in a
glass bulb 1 and intermitting lighting of thelamp 8 is conducted, an explanation regarding the relationship among the pressure of each of the above enclosed gas, the rate of an energization time within a period (hereinafter referred to as duty ratio), the energization time, the lamp efficiency, starting voltage and the lifespan thereof is given as below. - Fig. 2 shows a relationship between a pressure of enclosed xenon gas and a lamp efficiency. It is to be noted that the lamp efficiency is determined from a value obtained by dividing a brightness by an electric power. In Fig. 2, "A" indicates the relationship when the rare gas discharge fluorescent lamp is lit by rectangular wave dc pulses having a duty ratio of 60 %, while "B" indicates the relationship in the case of common high frequency ac lighting (sine wave), and in both cases, the frequency is 20 KHz and the power consumption is the same. It can be seen that, at an enclosed gas pressure lower than 10 Torr, there is no significant difference in efficiency between pulse lighting and ac lighting, but at an enclosed gas pressure higher than 10 Torr, the efficiency in pulse lighting is higher than the efficiency in ac lighting. However, if the enclosed gas pressure exceeds about 70 Torr, then the efficiency of the lamp in ac lighting still rises but the efficiency of the lamp in pulse lighting begins to drop, and then at 200 to 300 Torr, the efficiency of the lamp in pulse lighting approaches the value of the efficiency in ac lighting again. On the other hand, Fig. 3 shows a relationship between an enclosed gas pressure and a starting voltage. It can be seen from this figure that, as the enclosed gas pressure increases, a progressively high voltage becomes necessary for starting. Since such rise of the starting voltage is remarkable particularly at an enclosed gas pressure higher than 200 Torr, preferably the enclosed gas pressure is lower than 200 Torr. Accordingly, from Figs. 2 and 3, the optimum enclosed gas pressure at which the efficiency is higher than that in high frequency lighting and pulse lighting wherein the starting voltage is practical can be attained is higher than 10 Torr but lower than 200 Torr.
- On the other hand, several lamps having diameters ranging from 8 mm to 15.5 mm and a length of 300 mm at an enclosed xenon gas pressure of 30 Torr were produced, and characteristics of the lamps were measured changing the dc pulse lighting conditions variously. Results of such measurement are shown in Figs. 4 and 5. Fig. 4 shows a relationship between an energization time within a period of a dc pulse and a lamp efficiency while the idle time is held fixed to 100 µsec. From this figure, it can be seen that the shorter the pulse energization time, the higher the efficiency, and the effect is particularly remarkable where the pulse energization time is shorter than 150 usec. Fig. 5 shows relationship between a lamp efficiency and a pulse duty ratio in the case of pulse lighting at frequencies of 5 KHz to 80 KHz ("C", "D" and "E").
- Further, efficiency values in high frequency ac lighting (sine wave) at frequencies of 5 KHz to 80 KHz which are used commonly are shown as comparison values ("F", "G" and "H"). From Fig. 5, it can be seen that the efficiency is raised significantly by decreasing the duty ratio of pulses as compared with that in dc lighting (duty ratio = 100 %), and even compared with that in ac lighting at the same frequency, the efficiency is much higher if the pulse duty ratio is made lower than 70 %.
- Further, several lamps having diameter ranging from 8 mm to 15.5 mm at enclosed xenon gas pressure of 10 Torr to 200 Torr were produced, and a life test of the lamps was conducted changing the pulse duty ratio while keeping the lamp power fixed. Results are shown in Fig. 6. Here, the terminology "relative life" signifies a ratio of an average life time when the lamp is lit at a varying duty ratio to an average life time when the lamp is lit at a predetermined fixed duty ratio (for example, 40 %). From Fig. 6, it can be seen that the relationship between a pulse duty ratio and a relative life presents such a variation that, if the pulse duty ratio is reduced until it comes down to 5 %, the relative life exhibits a little decreasing tendency, and after the pulse duty ratio is reduced beyond 5 %, the life drops suddenly. It is presumed that, where the duty ratio is lower than 5 %, the pulse peak current of the lamp increases so significantly that wear of the electrodes progresses suddenly. Accordingly, the pulse duty ratio is preferably higher than 5 % when the life is taken into consideration.
- Figs. 7 to 11 are characteristic views showing the result of a similar examination of the above case, wherein krypton gas is enclosed in the lamp instead of the above xenon gas and from the results of these examinations, it can be seen that the optimum enclosed krypton gas pressure is more than 10 Torr but less than 100 Torr, the energization time to a period is less than 150 µsec, and the pulse duty ratio is preferably higher than 5 %, but lower than 70 %.
- By the way, in the above embodiment, the
inductance 12 is disposed nearer todc power source 7 than thelamp 8 is, if thelamp 8 is disposed nearer to thedc power source 7 than theinductance 12 is, as shown in Fig. 12, noise can be reduced, and further, if in addition to a lamp 8a which corresponds to thelamp 8 of Fig. 12, anotherlamp 8b is additionally provided in the condenser side as shown in Fig. 13, the device can be converted to a multi-lighting device. - Thus, a rare gas discharge fluorescent lamp device according to one embodiment of the present invention is constructed such that it comprises a rare gas discharge fluorescent lamp wherein rare gas such as xenon gas or the like is enclosed in the inside of a glass bulb which has a fluorescent layer formed on an inner face thereof and has a pair of electrodes at the opposite ends thereof, one of which is a cathode filament, a resonance circuit which is a parallel circuit composed of a condenser and an inductance serially connected to one end of the pair of electrodes of the rare gas discharge fluorescent lamp, a series circuit comprising a direct current power source and a parallel circuit composed of a switching element connected to an anode side of the rare gas discharge fluorescent lamp and a diode, a diode provided between the other end of the cathode filament and the anode of the rare gas discharge fluorescent lamp, and a pulse signal source that controls the switching element in such a condition that the rate of open time to a period is higher than 5 % but lower than 70 % and the open time is shorter than 150 µsec within a period, whereby any additional preheating circuit is obviated for preheating the filament, and a rare gas discharge fluorescent lamp having high efficiency in brightness and lighting effect is made possible.
Claims (4)
- A rare gas discharge fluorescent lamp device comprising:
a rare gas discharge fluorescent lamp (8), wherein rare gas is enclosed in the inside of a glass bulb (1), which has a fluorescent layer (2) formed on an inner face thereof and has a pair of electrodes (3a, 3b) at the opposite ends thereof, one of which is a cathode filament, characterized by- a resonance circuit (12, 13, 8), which is a parallel circuit composed of a condenser (13) and an inductance (12) serially connected to said pair of electrodes (3a, 3b) of said rare gas discharge flourescent lamp (8);- a series circuit comprising a direct current power source (7) and a parallel circuit composed of a switching element (14) connected to an anode side (3a) of said rare gas discharge flourescent lamp (8) and a first diode (17);- a second diode (16) provided between a first end of said cathode filament (3b) and said anode (3a) of the rare gas discharge fluorescent lamp (8); and- a pulse signal source (15) that controls said switching element (14) in such a condition that the rate of open time of said switching element (14) to a period is higher than 5 % but lower than 70 % and the open time is shorter than 150 µsec within a period. - A rare gas discharge fluorescent lamp device as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that the inductance (12) within said resonance circuit (12, 13, 8) is connected to a second end of the cathode filament (3b) of said rare gas discharge fluorescent lamp (8).
- A rare gas discharge fluorescent lamp device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the inductance (12) within said resonance circuit (12, 13, 8) is connected to the anode side (3a) of said rare gas discharge fluorescent lamp (8).
- A rare gas discharge fluorescent lamp device as claimed in claim 1, wherein said resonance circuit further comprises another rare gas discharge fluorescent lamp (8b) which is serially connected to said condenser (13).
Priority Applications (1)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
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EP96120796A EP0779767B1 (en) | 1990-06-06 | 1991-06-05 | A rare gas discharge fluorescent lamp device |
Applications Claiming Priority (2)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
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JP2147694A JP2658506B2 (en) | 1990-06-06 | 1990-06-06 | Rare gas discharge fluorescent lamp device |
JP147694/90 | 1990-06-06 |
Related Child Applications (1)
Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
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EP96120796.6 Division-Into | 1996-12-23 |
Publications (3)
Publication Number | Publication Date |
---|---|
EP0460641A2 EP0460641A2 (en) | 1991-12-11 |
EP0460641A3 EP0460641A3 (en) | 1993-06-16 |
EP0460641B1 true EP0460641B1 (en) | 1997-12-17 |
Family
ID=15436157
Family Applications (2)
Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
---|---|---|---|
EP96120796A Expired - Lifetime EP0779767B1 (en) | 1990-06-06 | 1991-06-05 | A rare gas discharge fluorescent lamp device |
EP91109195A Expired - Lifetime EP0460641B1 (en) | 1990-06-06 | 1991-06-05 | A rare gas discharge fluorescent lamp device |
Family Applications Before (1)
Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
---|---|---|---|
EP96120796A Expired - Lifetime EP0779767B1 (en) | 1990-06-06 | 1991-06-05 | A rare gas discharge fluorescent lamp device |
Country Status (5)
Country | Link |
---|---|
US (2) | US5173642A (en) |
EP (2) | EP0779767B1 (en) |
JP (1) | JP2658506B2 (en) |
KR (1) | KR940009330B1 (en) |
DE (2) | DE69132178T2 (en) |
Families Citing this family (23)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US5262891A (en) * | 1991-04-30 | 1993-11-16 | Olympus Optical Co., Ltd. | Optical microscope of the transmission type |
AU4980093A (en) * | 1992-09-10 | 1994-03-29 | A.D. Electronic Ltd | Circuit for operating fluorescent and neon-argon gas tubes without starter, ballast and high-voltage transformers |
JPH07120326A (en) * | 1993-10-22 | 1995-05-12 | Komatsu Ltd | Wavelength detector |
US6288499B1 (en) * | 1997-06-12 | 2001-09-11 | Biolase Technology, Inc. | Electromagnetic energy distributions for electromagnetically induced mechanical cutting |
JP3277788B2 (en) * | 1996-01-16 | 2002-04-22 | ウシオ電機株式会社 | Discharge lamp lighting device |
US6011362A (en) * | 1996-11-19 | 2000-01-04 | Electro-Mag International, Inc. | Magnetic ballast adaptor circuit |
US6020688A (en) * | 1997-10-10 | 2000-02-01 | Electro-Mag International, Inc. | Converter/inverter full bridge ballast circuit |
US6188553B1 (en) | 1997-10-10 | 2001-02-13 | Electro-Mag International | Ground fault protection circuit |
US5877926A (en) * | 1997-10-10 | 1999-03-02 | Moisin; Mihail S. | Common mode ground fault signal detection circuit |
US6069455A (en) | 1998-04-15 | 2000-05-30 | Electro-Mag International, Inc. | Ballast having a selectively resonant circuit |
US6091288A (en) * | 1998-05-06 | 2000-07-18 | Electro-Mag International, Inc. | Inverter circuit with avalanche current prevention |
US6100645A (en) * | 1998-06-23 | 2000-08-08 | Electro-Mag International, Inc. | Ballast having a reactive feedback circuit |
US6028399A (en) * | 1998-06-23 | 2000-02-22 | Electro-Mag International, Inc. | Ballast circuit with a capacitive and inductive feedback path |
US6107750A (en) * | 1998-09-03 | 2000-08-22 | Electro-Mag International, Inc. | Converter/inverter circuit having a single switching element |
US6160358A (en) * | 1998-09-03 | 2000-12-12 | Electro-Mag International, Inc. | Ballast circuit with lamp current regulating circuit |
US6181082B1 (en) | 1998-10-15 | 2001-01-30 | Electro-Mag International, Inc. | Ballast power control circuit |
US6169375B1 (en) | 1998-10-16 | 2001-01-02 | Electro-Mag International, Inc. | Lamp adaptable ballast circuit |
US6137233A (en) * | 1998-10-16 | 2000-10-24 | Electro-Mag International, Inc. | Ballast circuit with independent lamp control |
US6181083B1 (en) | 1998-10-16 | 2001-01-30 | Electro-Mag, International, Inc. | Ballast circuit with controlled strike/restart |
US6127786A (en) * | 1998-10-16 | 2000-10-03 | Electro-Mag International, Inc. | Ballast having a lamp end of life circuit |
US6222326B1 (en) | 1998-10-16 | 2001-04-24 | Electro-Mag International, Inc. | Ballast circuit with independent lamp control |
US6100648A (en) * | 1999-04-30 | 2000-08-08 | Electro-Mag International, Inc. | Ballast having a resonant feedback circuit for linear diode operation |
CN111052294B (en) * | 2017-08-22 | 2023-02-28 | 株式会社日本光电科技 | Discharge lamp and discharge lamp device |
Citations (1)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
JPS6358752A (en) * | 1986-08-29 | 1988-03-14 | Toshiba Corp | Aperture type area gas discharge lamp |
Family Cites Families (15)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US2622221A (en) * | 1945-11-23 | 1952-12-16 | Westinghouse Electric Corp | Fluorescent discharge lamp |
US3467887A (en) * | 1967-08-28 | 1969-09-16 | Microdot Inc | Lighting system |
BE758717A (en) * | 1969-11-10 | 1971-05-10 | Philips Nv | DEVICE FOR SUPPLYING A DISCHARGE LAMP WITH GAS AND / OR VAPOR |
US4388563A (en) * | 1981-05-26 | 1983-06-14 | Commodore Electronics, Ltd. | Solid-state fluorescent lamp ballast |
NL8104200A (en) * | 1981-09-11 | 1983-04-05 | Philips Nv | ELECTRICAL CIRCUIT FOR OPERATING A GAS AND / OR VAPOR DISCHARGE LAMP. |
JPS58119151A (en) | 1982-01-11 | 1983-07-15 | Mitsubishi Electric Corp | Low pressure rare gas discharge lamp device |
FI65524C (en) * | 1982-04-21 | 1984-05-10 | Helvar Oy | FOER REFRIGERATION FOER MATNING AVERAGE REQUIREMENTS FOR FLUORESCENT LAMPS |
US4450385A (en) * | 1982-08-09 | 1984-05-22 | Gte Laboratories Incorporated | Inductive ballasting of direct current gas discharges |
NL8302923A (en) * | 1982-08-23 | 1984-03-16 | Iwasaki Electric Co Ltd | HIGH-PRESSURE METAL VAPOR DISCHARGE LAMP. |
JPS6023996A (en) * | 1983-07-19 | 1985-02-06 | 三菱電機株式会社 | Low pressure mercury vapor discharge lamp unit |
JPH0697603B2 (en) | 1987-04-02 | 1994-11-30 | 東芝ライテック株式会社 | Noble gas discharge lamp |
FR2617363A1 (en) * | 1987-06-26 | 1988-12-30 | Omega Electronics Sa | DEVICE FOR SUPPLYING A DISCHARGE LAMP |
JPH0624116B2 (en) * | 1987-10-28 | 1994-03-30 | 三菱電機株式会社 | Hot cathode low pressure rare gas discharge fluorescent lamp |
CA2006034C (en) * | 1988-12-27 | 1995-01-24 | Takehiko Sakurai | Rare gas discharge fluorescent lamp device |
US5072155A (en) * | 1989-05-22 | 1991-12-10 | Mitsubishi Denki Kabushiki Kaisha | Rare gas discharge fluorescent lamp device |
-
1990
- 1990-06-06 JP JP2147694A patent/JP2658506B2/en not_active Expired - Fee Related
-
1991
- 1991-06-05 EP EP96120796A patent/EP0779767B1/en not_active Expired - Lifetime
- 1991-06-05 US US07/710,555 patent/US5173642A/en not_active Expired - Fee Related
- 1991-06-05 KR KR1019910009269A patent/KR940009330B1/en not_active IP Right Cessation
- 1991-06-05 DE DE69132178T patent/DE69132178T2/en not_active Expired - Fee Related
- 1991-06-05 DE DE69128438T patent/DE69128438T2/en not_active Expired - Fee Related
- 1991-06-05 EP EP91109195A patent/EP0460641B1/en not_active Expired - Lifetime
-
1992
- 1992-08-05 US US07/925,497 patent/US5723952A/en not_active Expired - Fee Related
Patent Citations (1)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
JPS6358752A (en) * | 1986-08-29 | 1988-03-14 | Toshiba Corp | Aperture type area gas discharge lamp |
Also Published As
Publication number | Publication date |
---|---|
DE69128438T2 (en) | 1998-04-09 |
JP2658506B2 (en) | 1997-09-30 |
US5723952A (en) | 1998-03-03 |
EP0460641A2 (en) | 1991-12-11 |
US5173642A (en) | 1992-12-22 |
EP0779767A1 (en) | 1997-06-18 |
KR920005806A (en) | 1992-04-03 |
DE69132178D1 (en) | 2000-06-08 |
KR940009330B1 (en) | 1994-10-06 |
EP0779767B1 (en) | 2000-05-03 |
DE69128438D1 (en) | 1998-01-29 |
EP0460641A3 (en) | 1993-06-16 |
DE69132178T2 (en) | 2001-01-11 |
JPH0439896A (en) | 1992-02-10 |
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